Teen girl dies in Orland Park crash

By Caroline Kyungae Smith | Tribune reporterJune 11, 2011

A traffic crash killed a 17-year-old girl and injured another in southwest suburban Orland Park late Friday, officials said.

Julie Gorczynski, 17, of the 7900 block of Frankfort Square Drive in Frankfort, was pronounced dead at 11:05 p.m. at Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

At about 10:30 p.m., the Orland Park Fire Department responded to a two-vehicle crash near the intersection of 135th Street and 88th Avenue in Orland Park, according to a battalion chief.

Ambulances transported two females to area hospitals, the chief said.

A 17-year-old girl from Mokena was driving a 1997 Jeep Cherokee, with Gorczynski as a passenger, eastbound on 135th Street when she attempted to turn northbound onto 88th Avenue and was hit by a 2009 Mazda traveling westbound on 135th, according to a police report.

The Mokena girl; was listed in serious condition at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, the report said.

The Mazda was being driven by a 21-year-old man from Lemont, who had a 19-year-old man from Tinley Park as a passenger. Both of the men were treated at the scene but not taken to a hospital.

Both drivers are cooperating fully and the preliminary investigation shows no indication that alcohol was involved, police said. No traffic charges have been filed yet as the investigation continued Saturday.